Golf
Elson just edged out

FORMER Kenilworth Golf Club member Jamie Elson finished runner-up in the Johannesburg Open at the weekend.

Elson, who began his golfing career at Crewe Lane, carded a magnificent nine under par 63 in the final round to hold the clubhouse lead on 16 under par.

But he missed out on winning his first European Tour event by just one shot after South African Branden Grace returned a final round 72 to finish on 17 under par.

After carding a first day 63, Elson fell back on the second day with a 75 before a third round two-under-par 70 kept him in contention.

Elson, 30, then produced a stunning final round which included six birdies on the opening nine holes.

He added another birdie on the 16th and completed a marvellous day with an eagle on the 18th.

Elson, who holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the final green of the European Tour’s qualifying school at the end of last year to secure his card, could then only sit and watch from the clubhouse.

But he had to settle for the runners-up spot again, just as he did in Madeira last spring, as overnight leader Grace triumphed.

Elson picked up a cheque for £123,000, more than double his previous biggest pay day, which put him third in the order of merit for this year’s Race To Dubai.

Elson’s only win came in the Finnish Open on the Challenge Tour the year he turned pro in 2003 .

The January Mixed Texas Scramble proved a closely contested affair at Kenilworth Golf Club on Saturday.

The quartet of Ray Bevan, David Elbourn, Graham Wright and Toni Shirley won the event with 71, nett 62-and-1/8.

Nick Wright, Ian Hardwick, Roger Adams and Christine Machin finished runners-up with 72, nett 62-and-3/8 from Adrian Riddell, Peter Mundy, Suresh Advani and Teresa Donnelly 71, nett 62-and-3/4.

Nearest the pin winners were Robert Owen (7th), Ian Griffiths (10th) and Steve Westley (18th).

Meanwhile, Ashley Bartlett celebrated after hitting his first hole-in-one on the 131-yard 7th hole in general play on Friday.